96 years ago

Date: 22nd September 1927

Title: World Heavyweight Title

Promoter: Tex Rickard

Tv: Cinematic Film

Gene Tunney
( 78 - 1 - 3 )
Weight: 189½ lbs

Jack Dempsey
( 58 - 5 - 9 )
Weight: 192½ lbs

In a pivotal rematch held at Soldiers Field, Chicago, Illinois, on the 22nd of September 1927, world heavyweight champion Gene Tunney defended his title against Jack Dempsey. The previous encounter between the pair had seen Tunney defeating Dempsey for the world heavyweight title on September 23, 1926. For this rematch, Tunney entered the ring with a record of 78-1-3, while Dempsey, hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, held a 58-5-9 record.

With a crowd of 104,943 producing a gate of $2,858,660, Tunney was the betting favorite, although odds were nearly even by fight day. Despite allegations of a $1 million offer from racketeer Arnold Rothstein and former World Featherweight Champion Abe Attell to throw the fight, Tunney stepped into the ring ready to defend his title. The purse for Dempsey was $447,500, while Tunney stood to make $990,445.

The fight started with Tunney exhibiting his familiar boxing style, maintaining distance, and seeking opportunities while accruing points. The scenario appeared similar to their first meeting until the dramatic seventh round, where Dempsey floored Tunney with a left hook. Dempsey, accustomed to standing close to his downed opponents, did not immediately retreat to the farthest neutral corner, as stipulated by Illinois State Athletic Commission rules. The referee's count commenced only after Dempsey complied, allowing Tunney precious seconds to recover. Tunney got up at the count of nine and survived the round, later known as the "Long Count" fight due to this controversy.

In the eighth round, Tunney returned the favor and floored Dempsey with a right. Unlike the previous round, Dempsey got up immediately. Tunney then continued to dominate the rest of the fight, winning by a unanimous decision after the 10th round. The seventh round was the only one he lost.

Dempsey insisted that Tunney had been down for 14 seconds, leading to fans taunting referee Dave Barry with a count from one to 14 during his subsequent fights. Early in February of 1928, promoter Tex Rickard announced Dempsey's retirement. By April, Dempsey confirmed the decision, citing a muscle injury to his left eye. Despite the enticing figures that might tempt a return to the ring, Dempsey insisted, "Money is no object to me now. I've got plenty."